I totally agree with Chris about the CPS. Great group, great organization.
Next time, I'll read all new messages before replying. Chris' message pretty well covers the iphone app.
Ross
________________________________
From: Chris Brown svflyaway@...
To:
AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, January 14, 2010 10:16:42 AM
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Digital Charts
What Garry said is absolutely correct. To add to that, the Canadian
Hydrographic Office, (I think that is what they are called, no matter)
wanted to release the Canadian charts to the public at no charge as NOAA did
with the U.S. charts -- this a couple years ago. But as Garry said, a
private company has a contract with the govt. in Canada to produce the
charts, so they couldn't be released. I am not totally sure, but I believe
they might be sometime in the future.
I might suggest, since you are in Canada, that you look into the Canadian
Power Squadron. I am a member of the Bellevue, WA squadron in the United
States Power Squadrons and I am also a Member of the CPS in the North
Vancouver Squadron (NORVAN). There are several squadrons within the greater
Vancouver area.
Both CPS and USPS teach a public course. In CPS you pay a few hundred
dollars for the public course (not sure the exact amount) but you also gain
membership in the organization. This then allows you to take member courses
-- the cost of these is really inexpensive compared to commercial courses.
Both organizations teach navigation courses from basic Piloting and
Seamanship, through celestial. They also teach electives such as engine
maintenance and electronics, just to name a couple. I am also on the USPS
Natioinal Education department and I can personally say that the courses are
modern and up-to-date (I just finished writing the section for the
Navigation course on offshore electronic navigation).
One other advantage of these organization is that you get to know a lot of
boater. Many are power boaters, but hey, a boat is a boat -- sailboats just
have a more complicated "engine." I have learned a tremendous amount from
being in the USPS since 1974 and now I teach courses in the Seattle area.
One other thought. If you have an Apple Iphone, Navionics has all the charts
of the west coast of Canada for $10.00. I have those and most of the US and
Caribbean (the Caribbean charts cost $20). Now, before anyone scoffs, these
are excellent charts. They have amazing detail. I have been doing teaching
navigation and engaging inblue water sailing for years and years -- I could
navigate a boat with these -- they are accurate and detailed enough. I
always carry a couple computers on board as well as having a chart plotter.
But now I have charts on the Iphone that I can quickly review when I want to
kill time (waiting for my wife in a store, or where ever). Maybe Navionics
has other charts available for other media -- such as Blackberry or even a
laptop.
Finally, Seaclear is a pretty good program and as was said it is freeware.
There is another I believe called Mapware or something like that. Fugawai
offers a 10 day free trial. I use three programs, The Capn, Rosepoint
(actually the old Maptech version of this program), and Nobeltec. But then I
teach the stuff so I can justify it (yeah sure).
That's enough, too long already,
Chris
